Meet the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N Pikes Peak Racer: A Closer Look at the Monster Inside

Heading: British Hillclimb Champion Takes on Pikes Peak in Hyundai’s Electric SUV

Brit Robin Shute, known as the ‘King of the Mountain,’ is gearing up for the 102nd running of the International Hillclimb at Pikes Peak. This time, Shute will be behind the wheel of Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 N TA Spec production racer, marking a departure from his usual Unlimited class Wolf sports racer.

Development of the modified electric SUVs has been led by Shute and engineer Tim Whitteridge, with former Indycar ace Bryan Herta’s team running the vehicles. The goal is to set new benchmarks for EV performance at Pikes Peak.

Hyundai’s history at Pikes Peak dates back to 1992, and now they are aiming to create fresh records with their modified and production electric SUVs. Shute has his sights set on beating the current record set by Rhys Millen in a Genesis Coupe.

The Ioniq 5 N has undergone significant modifications, including enhancements to the aero kit, drivetrain, and brakes. With 687bhp at his disposal, Shute describes the race car as a thrilling experience to drive, likening it to a Group B rally car on steroids.

Drivers face challenges due to the high altitude of the climb, but Shute sees it as the ultimate proving ground. Thanks to Hyundai’s support, he was able to conduct extensive testing ahead of the race, giving him more practice runs than ever before.

As Shute continues his quest to break the overall record at Pikes Peak, he remains open to collaboration with Hyundai to achieve this ambitious goal. The future looks exciting for this partnership as they aim to push the boundaries of electric vehicle performance on one of the world’s most challenging race courses.